Find out how popular the last name Napa is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Napa.

Napa, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Napa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Napa in America

Napa is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Napa surname appeared 121 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Napa.

The history of the last name Napa

The surname NAPA originated in Italy during the early medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "nappa," which refers to a tuft or tassel, suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who worked with tassels or decorative fringes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NAPA surname can be found in a document from the city of Genoa, dated around 1200 AD, where a person named Guglielmo NAPA was mentioned as a resident. This suggests that the name may have originated in the region of Liguria, particularly in and around Genoa.

In the 13th century, records show a family with the surname NAPA residing in the town of Noli, located in the province of Savona, Liguria. This could indicate a potential connection between the surname and this particular location, although the exact nature of this relationship remains unclear.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure bearing the NAPA surname was Francesco NAPA, a Genoese merchant and explorer who lived from 1450 to 1522. He is known for his travels to the Mediterranean region and his involvement in trade activities between Italy and the Middle East.

Another individual of historical significance was Giovanni Battista NAPA, a 17th-century Italian painter born in Genoa in 1615. He was known for his religious and mythological works, some of which can still be found in churches and galleries throughout Italy.

In the 18th century, a prominent member of the NAPA family was Niccolò NAPA, a lawyer and political figure from Genoa who lived from 1725 to 1798. He played a role in the political affairs of the Republic of Genoa during a turbulent period in its history.

While the NAPA surname has its roots in Italy, particularly in the region of Liguria, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, records from more recent times are less reliable in tracing the historical origins and evolution of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Napa

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Napa.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Napa was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Napa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Napa, please contact us.

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